Backup to Removable USB Hard Drives
This is more or less a copy of an identical post that, for some reason, Acronis quit responding to. I am reposting it because I would really like Acronis to respond. Here is there first comment:
Thank you for your posting! Backup to removable devices with regular drive replacement should be performed with an option "Simplified naming of backup files" or in Removable media mode to prevent meta corruption. This article will help you to set up proper configuration.
My Reply: The jist of that article basically says that when you swap media that you need to use simplified naming so that the metadata will match what is on the media. Doesn't that apply only to differential and incremental backups? If you are doing full backups you don't really need to use simplified naming do you? because the backups aren't dependant on any previous backups..... no?
Acronis's Response: The issue in that case is not related to dependent backups, but to the metadata consistency. If you does not select "Removable media" mode in the backup plan settings and start changing target disks, the program will fail to find the metadata file (a file with .xml extension created along with archives, which provides the program with information on the vault contents), because it was left on the first location. "Removable media" mode or Simplified naming of backup files prevents such issues, because the meta-file is not created in this scheme.
My Reply: I am sitting here trying to figure out why you have to use simple naming or removable mode when using swappable USB hard drives.The XML files are where they need to be. Catalogs are correct and get updated before the drive is swapped. For all practical purposes, as far as Acronis is concerned, the drive is fixed.
Why do you need to either use simple naming or removable mode?
This is where Acronis quit responding. I would still like an answer Acronis.....
Hi Jim,
USB-HDD are not considered as a removable devices by Acronis Backup 11.5 (as it mentioned in help). Only USB-flash (USB stick) or RDX devices can be used in "removable" mode and allow to write increments to the newly inserted media.
Acronis have plans to fix this behavior in the next product versions and allow USB-HDDs to work in the "removable" mode.
Wow Andrew you completely contradicted what you own support person said. Can you read this link, get together with Ekaterina and decide on a "correct" answer please?
https://forum.acronis.com/forum/103854
Where oh where has Acronis gone, oh where oh where could they be?
Hello Acronis... you are for some reason ignoring this thread and my questions. One of your support people says USB hard drives are treated as removable and one of your support people say they aren't. I am sure a lot of people would like clarification on this issue yet oddly enough you seem to be ignoring it.
Is this typical of Acronis support?
Hi, actually all answers are correct). Probably we have to clarify it more clearly in the article: https://kb.acronis.com/content/47954
Briefly: Considered case is the proper functioning of retention rules in case of regular drive replacement.
For devices that detected as a "removable" we provide the UI option - use this device in Removable or Fixed mode. It relates to RDX and USB stick devices.
USB HDDs are not detected as removabe devices (will be changed in further version). So in case of regular drive replacement you need to use an option "Simplified naming of backup files"